Healthy summer with epigenetics

Epigenetic nutrients help protect us from UV rays, traveler’s diarrhea and urinary tract infections. And it will even boost our sexuality!

Although we are generally healthier in summer than in winter, we are often plagued by problems typical of this summer period. Help can often be found at the level of our genetic information. Through nutrition and supplements, we can activate the right genes to help us cope with more than just summer ailments.

Safe sun bath

For many years we were told that where the sun doesn’t go, the doctor goes, but over the years this saying has changed to “where the sun goes, cancer goes”. That’s why many of us hardly ever leave the house without a layer of sunscreen and dark glasses. But that’s also wrong.

Yes, it is true that UV radiation is one of the risk factors for skin cancer. As well as the fact that free radicals produced in the sun-drenched skin damage skin cells and accelerate their aging. But it’s also true that we can’t do without the sun because, for example, it triggers the production of vitamin D3 in the skin and regulates the internal biological clock. We therefore need to find a balance between sun exposure and skin protection, and epigenetics can help us do this.

When skin cells are exposed to UV light, an epigenetic reaction called DNA methylation takes place. This causes the so-called tumour suppressor genes, which are supposed to protect us against skin cancer, to be switched off in the skin cells. Fortunately, this reaction is reversible – if we can remove the excessive methylation, the function of the tumour suppressor genes is restored and the likelihood of tumour formation drops sharply.

Epigenetically acting nutrients are a very effective way to remove excessive methylation. These are found in the normal diet, but for greater effectiveness they can also be taken in the form of dietary supplements. It is advantageous if they are also powerful antioxidants, so that the skin cells are also protected from free radicals. For example, proanthocyanidins from grape seeds – OPC, EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate from green tea (https://www.epivyziva.cz/epigalokatechin-galat/), pomegranate, sulforates from broccoli or astaxanthin (https://www.epivyziva.cz/astaxantin) have been scientifically proven to be effective in this respect. If our skin is already showing visible signs of aging, whether due to overexposure to the sun or other reasons, resveratrol(https://www.epivyziva.cz/resveratrol/) or vitamin K2(https://www.epivyziva.cz/vitamin-k2/) can help bring it back to health.

The key to health is in your gut

Diarrhoea, constipation, but also infections of all kinds – such “joys” often accompany holiday time. Whether we can cope with this period in good health is closely related to the intestinal microflora. The popular “friendly bacteria”, such as Bifidobacterium, Ruminococcus, Enterococcus, Clostridium and Enterobacter, not only have a direct effect on immunity in the digestive tract, but also produce a number of substances with epigenetic effects (e.g. folic acid, butyrate or biotin). These in turn directly influence the activity of genes that control the formation, differentiation and maturation of immune cells, thereby improving the immunity of the whole organism.

A proven means of supporting the intestinal microflora is chicory (https://www.epivyziva.cz/cekanka-obecna/). It contains inulin and fructooligosaccharideswhich act as a prebiotic – i.e. a substrate that is necessary for the growth and multiplication of probiotic bacteria. Chicory also has epigenetic effects and has been shown to improve anti-tumour immunity, act against certain types of bacteria including, for example, salmonella, and is effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal infections. Last but not least, it helps against constipation. You can boost its effects by eating ginger(https://www.epivyziva.cz/zazvornik-lekarsky/), which supports immunity and has strong anti-inflammatory effects.

Another epigenetic substance, EGCG(https://www.epivyziva.cz/epigalokatechin-galat/) or epigallocatechin gallate from green tea, also has a positive effect on the growth and proliferation of probiotic bacteria. Moreover, it too influences immunity through epigenetic pathways.

The end of urinary tract inflammation

Women in particular often take away an unwanted souvenir from their holidays in the form of urinary tract inflammation. Here, too, in addition to following tried-and-tested principles such as changing out of wet swimsuits or following a sufficient drinking regime, it is possible to seek help in epigenetics.

A great weapon can be a pomegranate(https://www.epivyziva.cz/granatove-jablko/). This not only boosts immunity and reduces the intensity of inflammatory processes in the body through epigenetic processes, but also directly counteracts some of the microorganisms that cause urinary tract inflammation. For greater effectiveness, you can supplement with other nutrients that have anti-inflammatory and immunity-supporting effects, such as curcumin (https://www.epivyziva.cz/kurkumin/), quercetin(https://www.epivyziva.cz/kvercetin/), or omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids(https://www.epivyziva.cz/omega-3-nenasycene-mastne-kyseliny/).

For romantic moments

Escape from the everyday hustle and bustle and stereotype often leads to people increasing their sexual activity on holiday. But to really make memories, everything has to work as it should. A great remedy in this regard is the aforementioned pomegranate(https://www.epivyziva.cz/granatove-jablko/), which significantly improves blood circulation in all body tissues, not excluding the genitals. Thanks to this, it has a positive effect on both erectile capacity and sexual desire in both sexes.

If you even decide to conceive while on holiday, then know that scientific research has also shown the beneficial effect of pomegranate on the quantity and quality of sperm. Women should then reach for the resveratrol(https://www.epivyziva.cz/resveratrol/) from red wine. This substance eliminates the epigenetic changes associated with aging and affects all cells of the body, including the eggs. In fact, epigenetic changes in the DNA of eggs are a common cause of problems with pregnancy, and removing them will help to reduce the risk of developmental defects and health problems in the newborn child.

Help for sore muscles

Most people also increase their level of physical activity during the summer and holidays. On the one hand, this is a good thing, as movement has a definite positive effect on our epigenetic patterns, but if you have been neglecting your physical fitness, you may be in for a nasty surprise with muscle and tendon pain.

Here, too, epigenetics can help. Muscle pain in the days after exercise is caused by inflammatory processes that arise in the muscles as a result of microscopic injuries to muscle fibres. However, with the help of certain nutrients, we can effectively reduce the activity of genes that control the production of inflammatory enzymes (especially the SIRT2 enzyme), and at the same time limit the production of so-called pro-inflammatory transcription factors (e.g. NF-kB). This will primarily relieve muscle pain, but also speed up muscle recovery.

It is advisable to choose nutrients that combine an anti-inflammatory effect with an antioxidant effect, as physical activity is associated with the production of free radicals that contribute to muscle fibre damage. For example, the positive effect of curcumin(https://www.epivyziva.cz/kurkumin/), proanthocyanidins from grape seeds, also known as OPCs(https://www.epivyziva.cz/extrakt-z-jader-revy-vinne/) or quercetin(https://www.epivyziva.cz/kvercetin/), has been scientifically proven.

Whether we choose the path of consuming important nutrients through dietary modification or taking supplements, it is important to remember that removing negative epigenetic changes from our DNA is a relatively long process. While some positive changes can be seen after a week (especially when taking supplements at higher doses), it takes at least a month to achieve a significant effect.